Hindu prayer request declined

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3849

[Religious Intelligence] 13 Feb 2009--A Hindu chaplain has been denied the request to lead the opening prayer of Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly of Canada.

Kathleen Casey, Assembly Speaker, in a response to the request of Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that according to tradition, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly leads the House in prayer and the traditional prayers were first adopted by the House in 1877.

Charles MacKay, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, in another communiqué to Rajan Zed, said that same three prayers were read each sitting day. These included “A prayer for the Queen’s majesty”, “A prayer for the Legislative Assembly”, and “The Lord’s prayer”.

It reads “…We humbly beg in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Saviour and Lord…”